The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History is a national repository of nuclear science information. The mission of the National Museum is to serve as America’s resource for nuclear history and science.
The museum’s exhibits cover the diversity of individuals and events that shaped the historical and technical context of the nuclear age.
The Museum was initially established in 1969 on the grounds of Kirtland Air Force Base. In 1985, the United States Department of Energy (DOE) became responsible for the Museum.
In 1991 the Museum received its charter as a national museum, and its mission expanded to include aspects of nuclear science and history beyond the manufacturing of nuclear weapons.
After the terror attacks in September 2001, increased security restricted public access to the Museum’s on-base site, which forced its relocation to a public place.
The new museum opened in 2009, in its current location under the new name of the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History.
The new facility incorporates exhibit areas, classrooms, a theater, library, conference room, and a gallery for temporary exhibits.
The site includes nine-acres (3.6 ha) of outdoor space for exhibits of military aircraft, missiles, vehicles, and the sail of a nuclear submarine.
The master of the USS James K. Polk nuclear submarine – National Museum of Nuclear Science and History
Highlights of the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History
- The sail of the USS James K. Polk nuclear submarine
- Artifacts from Los Alamos used at the Manhattan Project
- Replicas of Little Boy and Fat Man bombs that were dropped on Japan during WWII
- Modern atomic bombs and warheads
- WE.177 bomb – a British nuclear weapon
- A Norden bombsight
- Two of the bomb casings from the Palomares hydrogen bombs incident (image above)
- TA-7C Corsair II Navy
- B-29 Superfortress USAF
- F-105D Thunderchief
- A PGM-11 Redstone rocket
280MM Atomic Cannon – National Museum of Nuclear Science & History
1966 Palomares B-52 crash
The Palomares incident occurred in 1966 when a B-52G bomber collided with a KC-135 tanker during mid-air refueling over the Mediterranean Sea.
The KC-135 was destroyed when its fuel load ignited, killing all four crew members. The B-52G broke apart, killing three of the seven crew members aboard.
Of the four Mk28-type hydrogen bombs the B-52G carried, three were found on land near the small fishing village of Palomares in Spain.
The non-nuclear explosives in two of the weapons detonated upon impact with the ground, resulting in plutonium contamination of a 0.77-square-mile (2 km2) area.
The fourth, which fell into the Mediterranean Sea, was recovered intact after a 2 1⁄2-month search.
Mk-17 Thermonuclear Bomb – National Museum of Nuclear Science & History
National Museum of Nuclear Science & History
- Museum: National Museum of Nuclear Science & History
- Formerly: National Atomic Museum
- City: Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Country: United States
- Established: 1969
- Type: Specialist Museums, Military and War Museums and Memorials, Science and Technology Museums
- Category: National Museum of the United States,
- Location: 601 Eubank SE (at Southern Blvd), Albuquerque, New Mexico
National Museum of Nuclear Science & History Map
National Museum of Nuclear Science & History – 360 views
National Museum of Nuclear Science & History – 360 views
National Atomic Testing Museum – 360 views
National Museum of Nuclear Science & History – 360 views
National Museum of Nuclear Science & History – 360 views
National Museum of Nuclear Science & History – 360 views
Virtual Tour of the National Museums of the United States
- The National Museum of the United States
- National Museum of the United States Air Force
- National Museum of the Marine Corps
- National Air and Space Museum
- National Museum of African American History and Culture
- National Museum of Natural History
- National Portrait Gallery
- National Veterans Memorial and Museum
- National Nordic Museum
- National Museum of the United States Navy
- National Constitution Center
- The National WWII Museum
- National World War I Museum and Memorial
- National Civil War Museum
- National Civil Rights Museum
- National Museum of the American Indian
- CIA Museum
- National Cryptologic Museum
- National Postal Museum
- National Museum of Health and Medicine
- National Museum of African Art
- National Museum of the Pacific War
- National Railroad Museum
- National Quilt Museum
- National Building Museum
- National Atomic Testing Museum
- National Museum of Nuclear Science & History
National Museum of Nuclear Science & History
National Museum of Nuclear Science & History
National Museum of Nuclear Science & History
Virtual Tour of American Museums
- Museums in New York
- Museums in Washington, D.C.
- Museums in Boston
- Museums in Los Angeles
- Museums in San Francisco
- Museums in Chicago
- Museums in Cleveland
- Museums in Philadelphia
- Museums in Wilmington
- Museums in Houston
- Museums in Honolulu
- Museums in Columbus
- Museums in New Haven
- Museums in Baltimore
- Museums in Massachusetts
- Museums in Buffalo, New York
- Museums in Fort Worth, Texas
- Museums in Detroit
- Museums in St. Louis
- Museums in Indianapolis
- Museums in Denver
- Museums in Dallas
- Museums in Cincinnati
- Museums in Phoenix, Arizona
- Museums in Pasadena, California
- Museums in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Museums in Richmond, Virginia
- Museums in Kansas City, Missouri
- Museums in Miami, Florida
- Museums in Hartford, Connecticut
- Museums in New Orleans, Louisiana
- American Proverbs and Quotes
National Museum of Nuclear Science & History
National Museum of Nuclear Science & History
National Museum of Nuclear Science & History
~~
“Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants. We know more about war than we know about peace, more about killing than we know about living. We have grasped the mystery of the atom and rejected the Sermon on the Mount.”
– Omar N. Bradley
~~~
Photo Credit: byteboy / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0); Balon Greyjoy / CC0; byteboy / CC BY (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0); byteboy / CC BY (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0); Marshall Astor from San Pedro, United States / CC BY-SA (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)
Popular this Week
Sponsor your Favorite Page SEARCH Search for: Search Follow UsJoin – The JOM Membership Program
Sponsor a Masterpiece with YOUR NAME CHOICE for $5
Share this:
- Tweet
